Rice shipments lead growth as Basmati exports surge more than 53%, while food imports also record a modest increase.
Pakistan’s food exports recorded notable growth during the first two months of the financial year 2026-27, increasing by 7.67 percent compared with the corresponding period last year.
According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the country exported food commodities worth $833.023 million during July-August 2026. The figure was higher than the $773.644 million recorded during the same period of the previous financial year.
Rice Exports Drive Overall Increase
Rice remained a major contributor to the expansion in Pakistan’s food exports during the period under review. Shipments increased by 24.68 percent, with approximately 654,619 metric tons of rice exported for $391.741 million.
During July-August last year, Pakistan had exported 545,572 metric tons of rice valued at $314.198 million. The latest figures therefore indicate both higher export volumes and stronger earnings from the commodity.
Basmati Shipments Record Major Growth
Basmati rice performed particularly strongly, with exports rising by 53.04 percent year-on-year.
Pakistan exported around 145,731 metric tons of Basmati rice worth $164.091 million during the first two months of the current financial year. In comparison, exports stood at 101,973 metric tons valued at $107.223 million during the same period last year.
The substantial increase highlights stronger overseas demand for Pakistan’s premium rice variety.
Other Rice Exports Also Increase
Exports of rice other than Basmati also posted growth during the two-month period. Pakistan exported approximately 508,879 metric tons of other rice valued at $227.650 million.
This compared with 443,499 metric tons worth $206.975 million exported during July-August of the previous year. The category recorded a 9.99 percent increase in export value.
Food Imports Rise Moderately
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s food imports also increased during the first two months of FY2026-27. The country imported food commodities worth $1.503 billion in July-August 2026, compared with $1.470 billion during the corresponding period last year.
The latest data represents a 2.23 percent year-on-year increase in food imports, showing that both food exports and imports recorded growth during the opening months of the financial year.